Titiek Soeharto: Discussions on Bulog Becoming an Autonomous Body Still Ongoing

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chair of DPR RI Commission IV, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, commonly known as Titiek Soeharto, stated that discussions on the plan for Perum Bulog to become an autonomous body are still ongoing at the commission level with the government. “Still, still (the discussions),” said Titiek to reporters after a working meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency, Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, and other state-owned food enterprises in Jakarta on Tuesday. Titiek emphasised that the discussion process is not yet final and is still awaiting direction and an official decision from the government regarding the policy to be taken. When asked further about the developments in the discussions, Titiek reiterated that her side is still waiting for the government’s wishes before proceeding more deeply at the legislative level. “We’re just waiting for the government’s stance on this,” Titiek added. Although she did not provide more detailed explanations regarding the plan, Titiek assured that communication between the DPR and the government continues in discussing the future of Bulog’s institutional structure. “Yes (the discussions are still in Commission IV of DPR RI), but we’re waiting for what the government wants,” said Titiek. She stated that her side has also received support from DPR Commission VI, which is pushing Commission IV of DPR RI to accelerate the revision of the food law to ensure Bulog’s institutional certainty moving forward. Rizal assured that after the food law revision is enacted, Bulog will automatically shift to autonomous body status in accordance with the new regulatory mandate, which governs the functions, authorities, and integrated national food institutional structure. “Now it’s in the drafting process. The point is, Commission VI is also pushing Commission IV to realise this law as soon as possible,” explained Rizal in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/1). Bulog stated that in the future, as an autonomous body, it will manage nine staple commodities to strengthen supply stabilisation, price affordability, and national food resilience. The management will not only cover rice and corn but also other food commodities such as cooking oil, sugar, eggs, milk, soybeans, and other important staples. The plan to transform Perum Bulog into an autonomous body was first announced at the beginning of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. With this transformation, the state-owned company will no longer need to consider profits and losses, unlike its current function as a corporation or SOE. Bulog is said to return to being a non-commercial institution to achieve food self-sufficiency, serving as a buffer for supply and national food price stabilisation. It is hoped that this transformation can proceed quickly to support food self-sufficiency targeted for achievement by 2027.